The Dude Abides. I'm A Dude AbiKes. I wonder as I wander around Austin on a bicycle.

A Dog, A Dude, A Day

In a week’s time I’ll be back in my room in the busy, noisy, stinking city. The car will be returned to its owners and the process of “re-dogging” will take place. Over four long days I’ll be volunteering for the very large South by Southwest convention (SXSW). That will allow me to see most of the shows except sold-out headliners for free and hopefully do some networking, learning and basically being a tourist in my own town. A luxury of which being employed full-time has deprived me for almost two decades. I’m due for a little fun, especially in the “Live Music Capital of the World.” My search for relevant, rewarding and non-boring work will continue. As will this blog, I hope, but in reduced form while I also hope to re-start working on my book of biking 10,000 miles in 2 years. With these changes on the horizon, it seemed like a good day to reflect.

Sunrise, Sunset… Swiftly Flow the Days

On our two walks today, Buddy and I experienced two amazing views of the sky. It’s been a great moon too, but those photographs don’t turn out well.

After the thunderstorms dropped their terrible gift, beautiful clouds and blue skies appeared overhead.

Sunset at night through the trees.

These are some of the perqs of being in a somewhat secluded country area, albeit one that is very near to civilization. I’ll miss that but the same sky is available to me if I go out in nature more. Of course riding a bicycle offers that too but usually I’m too busy trying to not run over glass or get hit by cars. So I aim to find ways to get out of town more, somehow, but without a car that’s a challenge. I’ve been in the city for too long.

Food from the Garden to My Face

Today I remembered to check out a few of vegetables growing in the garden. Normally I’m not a big fan of kale, but this year in my efforts to be a little less of a fathleterequire I actually eat vegetables. There’s no way around it if you want to reduce your girth, add nutrition, fiber, minerals and all the rest. While my weight has pretty much stabilized, my pants are fitting more loosely, so that’s a small victory for me.

Buddy checks out the garden with prickly pear cactus and dinosaur kale.Kale, green onions and rosemary – fresh and free from the garden.A late lunch of kale, onion, and rosemary, wild rice, chicken, tomatoes, cheese and refried black beans.

Buddy the Fur Baby

There’s alot one can say about a dog, especially when you’re not used to having one. Two half-hour walks a day is alot. Plus letting out to pee, playing, petting, feeding, more playing, napping, sleeping. It’s like having my own four-legged little stalker who doesn’t talk, stinks, licks himself and then (tries to) lick me. That furry dude is a ton of work and responsibility to keep alive when cars pass or coyotes lurk and so on. That’s why A Dude is loving unemployment and is also not a dad.

Of course Buddy is also like what I imagine a hit of meth is like: pretty awesome. He can be very silly, makes cute faces and grunting noises, and runs after a ball like he’s seen Sasquatch himself only to bore with it seconds later. So I’ll miss you, little dude, but may I offer you an after-dinner mint? They’re waffer-thin! Or maybe just pick up some Tic Tacs.

Doing Stuff is Overrated but It Won’t Do Itself

We all have the stuff of life that we have to deal with, and I’m no different. Even though I’m unemployed, I do still work on stuff. Cooking, cleaning (although that one not so much), typing for a friend (I’m behind), emailing and texting friends about stuff like moving stuff, interacting with folks on Linked In, Strava, MeetUp and so on.

I’m also still spending a good bit of time corresponding with fellow bloggers around the world. Thanks to you if you’re a new follower! (I hope an exciting collaboration will be happening with someone in Germany — her idea). There’s also reading the news, listening to music, dealing with medical offices, doing laundry, doing my daily yoga without fail, and thinking about what to write here, in my book. In other words, just life, the universe and everything.I’m not special.

Walter Mosley’s book is really enjoyable so I’m reading it on and off to stretch it out. I finally got started watching what may be the last season of Bates Motel. Produced and written by Carlton Cuse of LOST fame, I just dig the dialogue and machinations that go on inside Norman’s mind and those plotting around him. Oscar-winner Vera Farmiga is always a joy to watch, too. Did you know she’s a goat farmer when not acting?

There’s plenty I’m not getting to as well, such as taking my bike back to Austin Yellow Bike Project. Or going to a “Headless Woo Commerce” MeetUp WordPress class. Because if I don’t know what the title means, it was probably going to be over my head. I have yet to finish my first interview. Not sure why but I have to be in the right head space for that. I have new ones to start but those are hold with the interviewees think about it, I guess. There’s sleep, bike riding, other books I should be reading, alot more work search. But life goes on, tomorrow’s another day. Until it isn’t.

Well, my short little description of my day has become long. Ta ta for now!

And yanno, you were able to make kale look good! Like, really, really good! The last time I tried kale, I made kale chips. They were so thin that I grew frustrated and switched to potato chips, defeating the entire purpose.